Gary Thorley – Rhyl

October 2018

Dad who kicked and pushed toddler son

A man who kicked his two year-old child before pushing him over so he hit his head on play equipment was caught by his own CCTV system.

Gary Thorley, 52 of Spruce Avenue, Rhyl , had pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a child under 16 due to the assault at a pre-trial hearing.

Originally he denied being responsible to police, claiming medication he took meant he wouldn’t be able to kick anyone.

However when he was shown CCTV footage from his own house the father of seven made no further comment.

Thorley’s barrister Mr Simon Rogers said Thorley claimed the incident had happened because he was worried the boy had handled cat faeces. He said Thorley and his partner had lost an unborn child “due a virus from cat faeces” in the past.

CCTV footage shown at the hearing showed Thorley approach the toddler and forcibly kick him from behind before pushing the little boy over and knocking his head on some play equipment.

Sentencing Thorley to 18 weeks, suspended for 12 months, Judge Timothy Petts said he had a duty to weigh up the punishment.

He said: “You go outside and kick and smack and more or less send him flying. To say it is shocking is an understatement.

“Quite how a father could assault a two-year-old boy like that is almost incomprehensible. Fortunately there’s no evidence of physical injury or psychological injury.

“Clearly it’s not good for any child to not know whether their father will commit assaults against their vulnerable little child. The court is here to protect people who are vulnerable – especially when their father has failed in that responsibility.”

Mr Rogers said social services was involved and the defendant still saw his children, although he lived away from the family address.

The incident had been reported by another family member who had since withdrawn their statement. Yet police investigating the complaint found the CCTV footage and arrested him.

David Mainstone, prosecuting for the CPS, said Thorley had 33 convictions for 69 offences, mainly theft-related, but had one for assaulting a police officer, one for arson and one for having an offensive weapon.

Mr Mainstone said despite repeated requests for input from Denbighshire social services while preparing the case, there had been no response from them.

In addition to his suspended sentence, Thorley must undergo at least 35 sessions of rehabilitation.